Chapter 18: Guarding An Angel

"I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you."

-- Roy Croft

I wrapped my cold, dead fingers around the cold iron and thought of all the times I could have told him. Well, there weren't many but still, I could have told him. Like the time at his house when we were just lying on the bed, I could have then. But what did I do? I fell asleep. Then when we shared that kiss, even then I could have. Instead of just blaming it on saying "thank you" like I did. His light growling caught my attention and I looked up to him. He stared at Juliet and continued to growl like he did. What had gotten into him? I just continued to stare at him until he looked towards me, and he hissed. His intense staring slowly and low growls made me feel a little scared; it was as if he thought I was the enemy. I didn't want to touch him, I couldn't touch him even if I wanted to. I was paralyzed with fear as we held eye contact. It felt like predator and prey around him yet I still held his eye. I took in a deep breath and I began to slowly let go of the bar. It was as if time had completely stopped. Within a mere second, my fingers had just let go of the cold bar and I began to retract my arm and the next second, I was on my back in the mud. He screeched that horrible sound of his and tried to reach me through the secure bars. His claws seemed even more deadly the way the rain danced upon them and the way the lightning made them glow. I would have hated to been the creature being attacked by him. I gulped the hard lump in my throat and began to sit up slowly. I decided it would be safe to not go anywhere near the cage, or else I would be sorry. I sat up and I looked down to my muddy form. As I sighed heavily, I looked to Alex and said quietly

"I'm not used to you acting like this…but I guess I'll have to if I'm going to love you."

He only screamed more and tried to reach for me as I sat there in the rain. I tried to smile the best I could but it only faded into a small frown. I had an odd feeling that he only saw me as his next target to kill. I tried to think of something else, but it didn't work. I wanted to help him so badly but I was afraid that if I did, it would turn out bad. I watched him give up at trying to kill me and went back to staring at Juliet. Her sobbing also bothered me greatly and once again, I felt useless. I then remembered the lack of guards and remembered that they should be returning soon. But did I care? Not a chance. I was more than content to die beside Alex than go on living without him, even if it was safer. So here I was, guarding a feral monster that I had loved, and still did, from anything dangerous. But then I heard the screams which caused Alex and I to look. Gunfire was also among the screams which frightened me. What was going on up there? I stood up and looked towards the area from which all the sound was coming from, but sadly, I couldn't see anything. But then I heard someone calling my name.

"Lucretia! Is that you? Cornelius, I found her!"

That's when I saw Dustin and Cornelius rush out of the bushes with large smiles. Well, Dustin had the largest and Cornelius had more of a smirk going on but nonetheless, it was an achievement in itself. I managed a small smile myself but as soon as it came, it was gone. They looked at me, then towards Alex and gave me a puzzled look. I lowered my eyes and answered their silent question

"I don't know what's going on…I found him this way…"

"What did those bastards do to him?" Cornelius growled quietly

"I wish I knew…" I responded and choked on my words. Hearing my sorrow only cut me more. We were all watching the way Alex became more and more alert. He paced back and forth and got a little faster. It was as if his animal side knew something was going to happen, something Cornelius, Dustin and I knew little about. I wanted to comfort him so badly but I knew it was a futile attempt to even think about nearing the cage. To ease my pain a little, I looked back to my companions. I then realized something and spoke my confusion

"Wait, weren't you guys distracting the soldiers?"

"Are you crazy? I nearly died the first time! What makes you think I'd do it again?" Cornelius responded. I looked towards Dustin who also seemed to realize this. Slowly, so did Cornelius. We all stood in complete silence and the rain began to get fiercer, along with Alex's pacing and Juliet's hoarse crying. Then I felt the ground begin to shake. It was only a little at first, then it got violent as if it were an earthquake happening. I looked towards them for any guidance but they two were also confused. Then I saw him break through the mist that the rain had created and it was as if the wind was knocked out of me. Juliet's crying stopped for a split second and I knew what was going on; Adam had come for his precious Juliet.

Cornelius and Dustin had run for the bushes before I could even regain my thoughts. I stood in front of Alex and felt like a wall between the two. Adam stopped in front of me and stared down towards me. Juliet didn't get up but turned to look at us and Alex stopped his pacing. Adam and Alex had locked eyes like two predators would before they would attack each other. The air went dead and the only sound I could hear was my breathing. I was standing between two lions just waiting to attack. I gulped and said in a quiet voice

"Adam, it's not what you think."

He ignored me and watched Alex, who seemed to be doing the same. But I continued shortly after

"Adam, no, Alex did nothing wrong."

Then I heard Cornelius and Dustin calling me from the bushes. Adam, however, managed to hear that and turned around to face them. He began to head for that direction.

"No!" I screamed so loud that everything once again died. He turned to look at me and looked down at me. I took a small step towards him but jumped when he suddenly smashed his large arms down on the soft earth beneath him. It sent a quaking shiver through my entire being as he closed in on me. I closed my eyes, just waiting for my punishment. But it wasn't all in vain, I mean, I managed to distract him from taking Cornelius's and Dustin's life so it would be alright. But then the ground stopped shaking from Adam coming to a halt. I opened my eyes only slightly to find his entire being in my face. I slowly backed up to the cage and felt like a trapped animal. He was watching me, judging my every step. I then realized how close to the cage I was and jumped forward, hitting him straight in the face.

He let out a long, aggravated wail and I panicked. What was he going to do? He suddenly stopped and growled heavily at me. That wasn't a good sign. I began to apologize to him and backed up to the cage once more. The giant being in front of me began to rush forward. He was pretty fast for a man of his size and weight. I then noticed his large left arm lift and begin to swing. I had enough time to only duck. Behind me, I heard the sound of metal on metal as the cage and truck smashed into a tree. He let out a victory wail and proceeded to smash it more. I instantly looked up and felt my heart sink. Alex was still in there. All I could do was watch him pulverize it into a big ball of nothing. I fell to my knees and watched him angrily make his way towards Juliet, ready to smash that to bits too. As the ground began to shake less from Adams weight, I dragged myself to what was left of Alex's prison. I touched the smashed metal with only my fingertips but couldn't bear to touch it anymore. I fell to my knees with my head in my hands and began to sob. That wasn't the only thing Adam had smashed into nothing. I looked up and sobbed more. I was trying my hardest not to believe what I just witnessed was real but I failed. Somewhere I heard the sound of metal being crushed and two pairs of feet running out from the bushes. I then felt a hand touch me lightly on the back.

"Lucretia, it's alright, it's not your fault. You couldn't do anything, come on now…" Dustin said trying to soothe me, but I could hear his voice shake too. But I surprised myself by suddenly jumping up screaming no. They fell silent and I continued my yelling

"No, it's not alright! You don't dare tell me it's alright when you yourself know for a fact that there is not the slightest chance in hell that there is! Don't you dare tell me!"

"Lucretia, calm down, please." Dustin tried to reason but it only caused me to let out a frustrated scream. My ear shattering wail echoed throughout the forest. They were watching me break down but I didn't care. I once again fell to my knees, away from the wreckage and continued to yell. But a few minutes later, my screams faded into light sobs and Cornelius bent down towards me and put his arm around me. He pulled me into his chest and slowly rocked us back and forth, the same way Alex did the first time I had met him. It had only crushed my heart more to think of it and I screamed into Cornelius's chest. But I stopped as I heard something stir somewhere in the metal. All of us turned and looked to what was happening behind us and then I saw him. He seemed to be unaffected by what just happened to him. My tears stopped, my wails stopped, but I felt my heart come together once more. Cornelius let go of me as I stood up to make sure that I wasn't just making him up. I took a small step closer as I saw Alex stand up on his own two feet and he literally took me breath away. He looked towards me, growled, and then leapt for bittersweet freedom into the bushes.

Not only had he taken my breath away, but he had also taken my crushed heart.